Planter



(No Model.) '3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. o. CAYTON.

PLANTER'. No. 447,759. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

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J. C. CAYTON.

PLANTBR.. f No. 447,759. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

3 Sheets-'Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. C. 'GYTONl PLANTER.

No. 447,759. Patented Mar. 1o', 1891.

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. arranged for planting cotton.

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JAMES CALVIN OAYTON, OF THORNTON, TEXAS.

PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,759, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed September 5, 1890. Serial No. 363,980. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I, JAMES CALVIN CAY'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thornton, in the county of Limestone and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Seeder and Planter, ot' which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to seed ers and planters; and it has for its object to construct a machine which shall be simple, durable, and inexpensive, and which may be quickly and easily converted from a corn to a cotton planter, and vice versa.

The invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a seed-planter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal Vertical sectional View showing the machine Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View showing the machine arranged as a corn-planter. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line G 6 in Fig. et. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the adjustable seed-plates.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the igures.

The frame of my improved seed-planter is composed of the side beams 1 1, between the front ends of which is bolted the rear end of the tongue 2, which is of sufficient width to properly space the said side beams. The rear ends of the side beams are spaced by means of a cross-bar 3. The rear end of the tongue 2 is provided at its sides with notches or recesses 4to accommodate the upper ends of the bifurcated standard 5, the lower end of which carries the furrow-opener G. The upper ends of the arms 7 of said standard are pivotally mounted upon a bolt 8, which extends transversely through the beams 1 and through the rear end of the tongue. Between the arms 7 of the standard is pivotally mounted a curved or segmental bar 9, which extends through a vertical slot 10 in the tongue, and is provided with perforations 11 to receive the pin or key 12, by means of which the standard may be retained at any desired adjustment. It will lbe seen that by this device the furrow-opener may be readily adj usted at any desired elevation and inclination with relation to the surface of the soil.

The under sides of the side beams 1 are provided wit-h boxes or bearings 13 for the transverse shaft or axle 14, the ends of which carry the supporting-wheels 15. Said axle is also provided with a chain-wheel or sprocketwheel 16, mounted adjacent to one of the frame-beams 1.

17 designates the hopper, which is constructed of sheet metal and is composed of the sides 18 and the inclined front and rear pieces 19 and 20. The sides 18 are extended downwardly to form the lips or iianges 21, which are attached to the outer sides of the framebeams 1, upon the upper sides of which the hopper rests. lThe front and rear sides of the hopper are connected by a downwardly-extending curved metal plate 22, which iits neatly between the side beams 1, and is provided with a central longitudinal slot 23. Suitably mounted upon the axle le and extending' into the said slot is a circular disk 24,

which is the seed-disk of my improved planter.

Said disk is provided in its periphery with recesses or seed-cups 25, in the bottoms of which screws 2G are mounted. By adjusting said screws it willbe seen that the sizes of the seedoups may be accurately regulated to contain l any desired quantity of seed. These-s eed-cups are used only when corn, peas, or other similar seed is to be planted. Vhen the device is. to be converted into a cotton-planter, the screws 26 are raised until they are flush with the periphery ot` the seed-disk. The latter is then provided with outwardly-extending tingers 27, which are screw-threaded at their inner ends to engage screw-threaded recesses 28, formed for their reception in the seeddisk. The latter is preferably constructed of cast-iron, so as to be strong` and durable.

The plate 22 in the bottoni of the hopper is provided at the front and rear ends ofthe slot 23 with gage-plates 28', having slots 29, by means of which theyare adjustable upon IOO the set-screws 80, by means of which they are held in position. Two of these gage-plates, which are transversely adjustable, are arranged at each end of the slot 28. Then the device is used as a cotton-planter, said gageplates may be adjusted at any desired distance apart, thus regulating the quantity ot' seed which shall be discharged from the hopper by the fingers 27 of the seed-disk.

Then the device is used asa corn-planter, the gage-plates 2S are brought closely together, so as to prevent the escape of seed, except such as may be carried olii by means of the seed-cups. It is necessary, therefore, that said gage-plates shall tit neatly against the periphery of the seed-disk, as willbe seen in Figs. i and G of the drawings.

The sides of the hopper are provided with bearings for a transverse shaft 3l, one end of which projects through one side of the hopper and carries the sprocket-wheel 32, connected by a chain 33 with the sprocket-wheel 1G upon the axle lei, from which a rotary motion is thus transmitted to the shaft 31. The latter is provided within the hopper with a series of radial arms er agitators that serve to stir and agitate the contents of the hopper. This agitating device is mainly used when the device is used as a cotton-planter. Then it is to be converted into a corn-planter, the agitating device may, if desired, be removed from the hopper. To the side of one of the frame-beams l is pivoted an arm Si, having at its outer end a friction-roller 35, adapted to bear against the chain 33 for the purpose of keeping the latter taut. The opposite end of the arm 3i has a slot 35, working over a bolt 3G, by means oi which the said tensionarm may be secured at any desired adjustment. Then the machine is used as a cornplanter, the tension-arm may be adjusted to slacken the chain 33, which may then be readily removed, thus causing the agit-ating shaft to remain stationary, and dispensing with the necessity of removing it altogether.

37 designates a clip or clamp, which extends through the plate 22 and through the inclined front side of the hopper, and is provided with a nut 3S, by means of which it may readily be tightened. Upon the inner side of the hopper is a wooden block 39, mounted upon the said clip or clamp to receive the hooked end of the latter.

40 designates a brush, having a handle l1, by means of which it may be adj usted in the clip or clamp 37, so as to form a cut-oft when the device is to be used as a corn-planter. This device, it will be seen, may be readily adjusted or removed, as occasion may require.

42 42 designate the handles, which are bolted to the outer sides of the frame-beams l, near the rear ends of the latter. Said handies are provided with braces if), which are likewise bolted to the rear ends of the side pieces of the frame. Upon the bolts -i-t, by

means of which said handles and braces are connected to the side beams, are suitably mounted the coverers 45, which serve to cover the seed deposited in the furrow by my improved planter.

i6 designates a suitably-constructed seedspout, which is attached to the under sides of the side beams directly below7 the hopper, and which serves to convey the seed from the latter to the furrow formed for its reception.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. Then the machine passes over the field, the furrowopencr G serves to open the furrow, which maybe of any desired depth, the said furrowopener having previously been set in the proper position. The seed-disk, being mounted upon the revolving axle, serves to convey the seed from the hopper into the spout fill, by which it is conducted to the furrow, where it is eventually covered by means of the coverers 45.

The general construction of the machine isy simple and inexpensive, and it may be readily adapted in the manner herein described to sow various kinds of seeds and in any dcsired quantity.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. In a seed-planter, the frame comprising the side beams, the rear cross-bar, and the tongue mounted between the front ends of said side beams, said tongue being provided with notches or recesses at its rear end, in combination with the biturcated standard having the ends ot' its arms mounted in said notch es or recesses upon a pivotal bolt extending transversely through the side beams of the frame and through the rear end of the tongue, and the segmental bar pivoted between the arms of the standard, extending through a vertical slot in the tongue and having transverse pertorations for the reception of a pin or key, substantially as set forth.

2. In a seed-planter, the combination of a frame, the revolving axle having the transporting-wheels, the seed-disk mounted on the said axle, the hopper mounted upon the frame, the plate secured in the bottom of the hopper to the front and rear sides of the 1atter, 'fitted between the side beams of the frame, and having a longitudinal slot to accommodate the seed-disk, and the regulating-slides arranged in pairs at the front and rear ends of said slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a seed-planter, the combination, with the frame having longitudinal side beams, of the hopper having vertieal'sides provided with downwardly-extending lips or flanges secured'to the outer sides ot the side beams IOO IIO

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature 1n 1o presence of two witnesses. v

JAMES CALVIN GAYTON.v

Witnesses:

G. T. BROWN, J. W. FULLER. 

